cant catch my mare

[karenasturge]

i have recently been experiencing problems catching my mare.
i have 3 horses, who are stabled at night and in a paddock by themselves.
but recently one of my mares has become difficult to catch. i catch the other 2 and go back for the third one but she keeps walking or running off. continually circling me as if its a game. only when its late or dark can u catch her.or she cant see any other horses.
never experienced this before.
there are horses in the next field, until they are all in i cant get my mare in.
ive been told all sorts of stuff but really dont know what to do or where to start with this issue.
she is not dangerous or aggressive to catch. once in an absolute pleasure.
is this typical mare behaviour or something different?
how to solve it?
any advice gratefully appreciated.

 

[Shay]

One possible option from what you have said it to bring the other horses in as well? But that may not be an option for you.

Counter intuitive as it is - if you are in a rush she won't approach you. The more annoyed you are about it - understandably - the worse she will get. You have to calm down and act like you have all the time in the world. I have a gelding that will do this from time to time - and to him it very definitely is a game.

You could catch with a treat - but get the headcollar on before you give the treat or you are back to square one! Or turn out with a field head collar so you only have to grab it rather than get the headcollar on her - but be sure it is field safe.

Do you feed once they are in? I know my lot are hungry for dinner and so are keen to come in. If you don't already do that it would be worth thinking about. Alternatively does she know she is being caught to ride? That can make some more wary of being caught.

When you have time at the weekend you can start to work on getting her to come when you call - but that is a longer term project and won't solve your immediate problems.

 

[karenasturge]

thank u shay.
she is turned out with head collar on.
never experienced this issue befirr

One possible option from what you have said it to
bring the other horses in as well? But that may not be an option for you.

Counter intuitive as it is - if you are in a rush she won't approach you. The more annoyed you are about it - understandably - the worse she will get. You have to calm down and act like you have all the time in the world. I have a gelding that will do this from time to time - and to him it very definitely is a game.

You could catch with a treat - but get the headcollar on before you give the treat or you are back to square one! Or turn out with a field head collar so you only have to grab it rather than get the headcollar on her - but be sure it is field safe.

Do you feed once they are in? I know my lot are hungry for dinner and so are keen to come in. If you don't already do that it would be worth thinking about. Alternatively does she know she is being caught to ride? That can make some more wary of being caught.

When you have time at the weekend you can start to work on getting her to come when you call - but that is a longer term project and won't solve your immediate problems.

 

[supsup]

I'd start thinking about why she prefers to be out, even when the other two are in. There's probably something she doesn't like about the process of being brought in, or about being in. Could there be anything she's afraid/nervous off on the way to the stable? Does she like her stable? Is there something nice waiting for her when she comes in (e.g. food)? It could be something small, e.g. maybe she doesn't like static from a rug, and every time she is caught and brought in her rug is changed, giving her a zap. Or maybe she's managed to bang herself on the gate in the past, and now she's worried about going through it. If this is a new thing, I'd think about what has changed. Also, does she behave the same for another person? Sometimes we give off vibes without noticing it.

 

[Booboos]

Make a small pen by the exit of the field. Take the other two horses to the stables, leave a bucket of food in the pen. Hopefully she will walk in the pen, close her in and do some Monty Roberts shooing away stuff until she is willing to get caught. When you catch her give her a big carrot.

 

[Dry Rot]

Catching with a treat sound a bit like the adult's advice to put salt on the tail of anything we wanted to catch when we were six years old! If they'll take a treat, how difficult is it to simultaneously scratch and handle about the head, then surrepitiously take hold of the head collar?

I'd start by getting in the others, then take a bucket of hard feed down to the evasive one. She'd get a good feed while I handled her around the head. But that is not going to be possible with other horses in the field. If I can't get a hand on her, I'll put the bucket on the ground and let her have a feed, then probably leave out. Next night, the bucket is closer. Third night, I'll hold the bucket and feed a few carrots as I have hold of her head collar. I'd ALWAYS give a carrot as the head collar goes on (not before or after but during). NEVER snatch or grab. Softly-softly catchee monkey -- and horse too.

Use a rope halter which can simply be dropped over the horse's neck as she feeds and you stroke her. I have a couple of videos about this (not very good!) where I train a head shy pony to actually put her head in the head collar and another showing the technique of putting on a rope halter so they hardly notice it is going on. Having said all that, if one of my ponies ever even thinks about avoiding being caught, they get some intensive training as it is one of the most annoying things they can do and definitely needs to be nipped in the bud before it becomes a habit.

https://youtu.be/IyQ_HHbMn-A

https://youtu.be/RzvqQTCClew

 

[MyBoyChe]

I would do exactly the same as Booboos suggests. Make a small square holding pen at the exit of the paddock, let her wander into it with a bucket on the ground, close off the exit behind her with a length of electric fencing, then catch your pony! I wouldnt necessarily put a feed in the bucket, maybe a polo or a piece of carrot just so she has a little bit of an incentive. As Shay says, stay calm but assertive, once she is penned hopefully she will give in gracefully. I would be inclined not to be overly effusive with her once caught, I dont mean be horrid to her but not overly affectionate or lavishing lots of praise either, she should learn that being caught is just what you do, it doesnt merit an award for good behaviour. Just get hold of her, a quick pat or neck scratch and off we go, it should just become second nature to her. Good luck, I know how frustrating it is!

 

[karenasturge]

ive read on internet about getting someone in to do ground work training or horsemanship stuff. do u think this would help.
someone also suggested getting an animal communicator in to see if thet could identify the prob.
what are peoples thoughts

 

[Booboos]

There are good behaviorists around, get recommendations for someone decent in your area and I'm sure they would be able to help.

Animal communication is a con, no one can read animal minds.

Have you tried any of the ideas suggested?

 

[oldie48]

The old TB was a complete pain to catch when I got him, his previous owner never turned him out in company but he was still tricky to catch. I wanted him out with the other horses and sometimes he'd come in once the others had been caught and on some occasions he was completely impossible to catch. Frankly I'd put her in a smaller field (or section some off) with his pals, and be prepared to spend time catching him. Get the other horses in, approach your horse, if she walks away, flick the leadrope at her and keep her on the move. Don't let her stop to graze, be very calm with her but very determined. Do not allow her to stop and graze even for a second. Keep her moving until she stops and turns towards you and starts to chew. When she does, approach her quietly, don't look at her and approach her at the shoulder. If she lets you put the headcollar on, all well and good, if she moves away, send her away again with the leadrope and start the process again. Don't snatch at her, she must allow you to catch her. I have completely cured my old boy, I did have to do it 2 or 3 times for him to get the message but it has proved to be a permanent cure. On the odd occasion that he decides he's like a bit more time in the field, a quick shake of the leadrope makes him think twice about it! Good luck I hope it works for you!